Circular RNA Expression Profiling and the Potential Role of hsa_circ_0089172 in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis via Sponging miR125a-3p

Abstract

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a novel subclass of noncoding-RNA molecules that participate in development and progression of a variety of human diseases via sponging microRNAs (miRNAs), but the role of circRNAs in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) has not been defined. In this study, peripheral blood samples from five patients with HT and five healthy volunteers were investigated by Illumina HiSeq Sequencer. A total of 627 differentially expressed circRNAs including 370 upregulated and 257 downregulated ones were identified in HT patients. Four upregulated circRNAs indicated the same rising tendency toward sequencing results. The expression of hsa_circ_0089172 was upregulated and correlated positively with the serum level of the thyroid peroxidase antibody. Two perfectly matched binding sites of miR-125a-3p were found in hsa_circ_0089172 sequences with bioinformatics tools. The expression of miR-125a-3p was decreased in the HT patients and correlated inversely with an elevated level of hsa_circ_0089172. Moreover, knockdown of hsa_circ_0089172 resulted in an increase of the expression of miR-125a-3p in vitro. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis suggested that hsa_circ_0089172 had significant value in HT diagnosis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that hsa_circ_0089172 as a potential diagnostic biomarker of HT and may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HT via sponging miR-125a-3p.

Circulating microRNA Expression Profiling Identifies miR-125a-5p Promoting T Helper 1 Cells Response in the Pathogenesis of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

“…Non-coding RNAs are well-known to play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of HT (5,6). MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are a class of small non-coding endogenous RNA molecules of ∼22 nucleotides in length that are involved in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression.…”

Three novel circRNAs upregulated in tissue and plasma from hepatocellular carcinoma patients and their regulatory network

“…Recent studies found that hsa_circ_0009910 was overexpressed in osteosarcoma and ovarian cancer cells, acting as a sponge of miR-449a and promoting the expression of miR-449a target IL6R in osteosarcoma while suppressing miR-145 in ovarian cancer cells [ 31 , 32 ]. The expression of hsa_circ_0089172 was up-regulated in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients and might function via sponging miR-125a-3p [ 33 ]. However, the role of hsa_circ_0049783 has not been reported.…”

Hsa_circularRNA_0079201 suppresses chondrocyte proliferation and endochondral ossification by regulating the microRNA‑140‑3p/SMAD2 signaling pathway in idiopathic short stature

“…Non-coding circRNAs have received increasing attention as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, such as gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, hypertension, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, primarily due to their highly conserved sequences and high stability in mammalian cells compared with that in other non-coding miRNAs and lncRNAs ( 25 , 34 , 35 ). Xiong et al ( 36 ) analyzed differences in the circRNA expression level in peripheral blood samples from 5 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 5 healthy volunteers, and identified 627 differentially expressed circRNAs in the patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Upregulated hsa_circ_0089172 expression was confirmed using RT-qPCR, whilst in vitro experiments revealed that hsa_circ_0089172 could be a potential diagnostic biomarker, as it plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis by sponging miR-125a-3p.…”